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-   -   Google Fi: Anyone care to post their experience? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1688964-google-fi-anyone-care-post-their-experience.html)

dyung Jul 27, 2016 3:33 pm


Originally Posted by Siberian_Viktorya (Post 26975497)
That's what I've been trying to find out. Can I use Project Fi one month,
then suspend it the next month... then activate it again the next month?

I intend to use the Project Fi SIM in a non-Nexus phone.(most likely my
Galaxy Note 5 or S7) I was told on by Project Fi that the suspending
and reactivating of the Project Fi acct has to be done on a Nexus phone
only. Is this correct?

You can suspend Fi service, but I believe that you can only suspend service for a total of 3 months within a 1 year period.

As for suspending (technically pausing in their terminology), you should be able to do it either from the Fi app on your nexus phone, or through the web interface. I see ways to do it from both, but have never tried, so cannot verify that it works.

Coolers Jul 27, 2016 11:08 pm


Originally Posted by Siberian_Viktorya (Post 26975497)
That's what I've been trying to find out. Can I use Project Fi one month,
then suspend it the next month... then activate it again the next month?

I intend to use the Project Fi SIM in a non-Nexus phone.(most likely my
Galaxy Note 5 or S7) I was told on by Project Fi that the suspending
and reactivating of the Project Fi acct has to be done on a Nexus phone
only. Is this correct?

Thanks!

I paused my service a few days ago online and it appears I can resume it there as well. My Fi SIM has not been in a Nexus-approved phone ever since it was activated.

You can only suspend service for three months at a time, though I cannot seem to find a limit on total suspension during a year.

boerne Jul 28, 2016 4:04 pm

Data point. I signed up for Fi at 1 GB. I used less than 0.5 GB the first month and got a $5 rebate on my next bill. It is fantastic in Austin. Both Sprint and T mo have improved their antenna coverage in central Texas in the past year. Mucho travel in the next 2 months and will report back.

LordHamster Jul 31, 2016 2:52 am

I'm a loyal T-Mo Fan but I have to say that this month's unthrottled connections in Europe spoiled me and got me thinking about Project Fi. I picked up an unlocked Nexus 6P from Amazon during their "Prime Day" deal and figured I'd give it a try.

I activated today with a new number as I'm not sure I want to port off my iPhone/Tmo Unlimited plan. I'll probably spend the next month or so playing with both simultaneously.

From what I understand, FI is much less aggressive with switching to Wifi calling... to the point where a single bar of Cellular service will be preferred for calling over wifi. I'm not sure I like this behavior as I've been spoiled by T-Mo. With T-Mo if you are on wifi, wifi calling kicks in. This brings me to my concern:

If I'm traveling internationally and am on Hotel Wifi... will the Phone still default to cellular for making calls back to the US? Or will it default to wifi when roaming? I guess I could use the Hangouts Dialer to force wifi use, but I like the no stress single dialer approach I'm used to from T-Mo.

Dubai Stu Aug 1, 2016 6:15 am

First Crack in the Nexus Only Wall -- Non-Nexus LG Approved for Fi
 
Don't know much, but here is the story:

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/8/1/12339826/lg-v20-announced-release-date-android-nougatp

der_saeufer Aug 1, 2016 6:44 am


Originally Posted by LordHamster (Post 26992936)
If I'm traveling internationally and am on Hotel Wifi... will the Phone still default to cellular for making calls back to the US? Or will it default to wifi when roaming? I guess I could use the Hangouts Dialer to force wifi use, but I like the no stress single dialer approach I'm used to from T-Mo.

It's supposed to prefer wifi when outside the US. I'd keep a close eye on it, though--I don't know how T-Mobile's looks but a wifi call on Fi will say "Calling via [your SSID]" in the call screen.

Dubai Stu Aug 1, 2016 10:24 am

On my Nexus 6, choose the phone app (not settings or a third party dialer), tap the three dots to the far right of the search bar, now go >calls, >wi-fi calling, and make sure the option "wi-fi calling -- use wifi for calls when my connection is strong enough."

To get more aggressive, go into developer mode from your settings app, select: General > About phone. Then scroll and select Software information > Build number. Now rapidly tap on 'Build Number' five times and you will see the message 'You are now a developer!' Now go back to settings, go into the previously hidden developer menu. There is an option to do the opposite called "Aggressive Wi-Fi to Cellular handover". It says: "when enabled, Wi-Fi will be more aggressive in handing over the data connection to Cellular, when Wi-Fi signal is low." I'd give this a try.

There is an app called "Llama Locations" in the Playstore which can also ring fence your hotel and turn off cellular in a given location.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kebab.Llama&hl=en

Additionally, you can use hangouts for personal calls (ones where a little bit of imperfection isn't a deal-breaker ) and put the call out out over LTE for less in many countries. Be sure to find an echo test number to test your connection before doing this too much.

nmenaker Aug 1, 2016 10:27 am


Originally Posted by Dubai Stu (Post 26998522)
There is an app called "Llama Locations" in the Playstore which can also ring fence your hotel and turn off cellular in a given location.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ab.Llama&hl=en

I've used LLAMA for many years, it's a very powerful tool and must have app for any more than simple android user.

ewrfox Aug 4, 2016 12:47 pm

So i got myself a 5x 16gb. What should I know about the phone and Fi?

Siberian_Viktorya Aug 4, 2016 1:59 pm


Originally Posted by Coolers (Post 26979395)
I paused my service a few days ago online and it appears I can resume it there as well. My Fi SIM has not been in a Nexus-approved phone ever since it was activated.

You can only suspend service for three months at a time, though I cannot seem to find a limit on total suspension during a year.

I received an email from Project Fi rep.

So the "official" word is that the account can be suspended for 3 months.
At the end of the 3 months, it will automatically become active again.
The $20 months fee will be charged and not refunded, but the $10 1gb
will be refunded, if the customer suspends the account again.

Basically, it is possible to suspend the account 4 times each year. At
each automatically resumption, it costs $20. So that's $80 for a whole
year. (less if the customer only plans to use the Project Fi one month
ouf of the year... for example, only during international travel).

Oh, the rep also told me that I can use whatever GSM phone that I want.

:)

nerd Aug 4, 2016 2:26 pm


Originally Posted by ewrfox (Post 27015772)
So i got myself a 5x 16gb. What should I know about the phone and Fi?

It's a good phone for the price, has pretty crappy battery life. Fi works pretty much as described in this thread.

bruceba Aug 4, 2016 2:35 pm


Originally Posted by ewrfox (Post 27015772)
So i got myself a 5x 16gb. What should I know about the phone and Fi?

There is a google fi forum which is helpful. I like my 5x but the battery is too small. I have had good luck in my travels. They also have a facebook page. It has been a bit of a learning experience but I am pretty happy with Fi.
Great customer service as well.

LordHamster Aug 5, 2016 10:41 am


Originally Posted by ewrfox (Post 27015772)
So i got myself a 5x 16gb. What should I know about the phone and Fi?

The 5X is seemingly having some issues with roaming on Sprint at the moment that Google is aware of and patching.

Siberian_Viktorya Aug 5, 2016 11:08 am


Originally Posted by bruceba (Post 27016275)
There is a google fi forum which is helpful. I like my 5x but the battery is too small. I have had good luck in my travels. They also have a facebook page. It has been a bit of a learning experience but I am pretty happy with Fi.
Great customer service as well.


what kind of battery do you usually after the 5X is fully charged?

thanks! :)

LordHamster Aug 5, 2016 11:21 am

I can't speak to the battery in the 5x, but I've had the 6P on Fi for a week and it is comparable to my iPhone 6sPlus on T-Mo.

That said, battery when traveling is less important for me since I disovered the RavPower portable powerbank with USB-C. The Nexus charges SUPER fast off that badboy, so I'm not really worried about running out of juice.


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